AP Biology Flashcards: Cellular Energy
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
How does the universal presence of glycolysis provide evidence for the origin of life?
Because glycolysis is a core metabolic pathway conserved across all domains, it strongly supports the concept that all life evolved from a common ancestor.
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How does the universal presence of glycolysis provide evidence for the origin of life?
Because glycolysis is a core metabolic pathway conserved across all domains, it strongly supports the concept that all life evolved from a common ancestor.
What is a key piece of evidence from metabolic pathways that supports the concept of common ancestry?
Core metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis, are conserved across all recognized domains of life, supporting common ancestry.
What is the main advantage of having sequential energy pathways?
The main advantage is a more controlled and efficient transfer of energy, which minimizes energy waste during metabolic processes.
Describe the primary role of energy in living organisms.
Energy's role is to maintain the highly ordered systems of life and to power the cellular processes necessary for survival.
According to the laws of thermodynamics, how do living systems maintain order?
Life requires a highly ordered system where the energy input must exceed the energy loss to maintain that order.
What is the fundamental energy requirement for all living systems?
All living systems require a constant input of energy to maintain order and power cellular processes.
What is the relationship between order in living systems and energy flow?
Living systems require a constant input of energy that is greater than the energy they lose in order to maintain their highly ordered state.
Why are energy-related pathways in biological systems sequential?
Pathways are sequential to allow for a more controlled and efficient transfer of energy from one step to the next.
If a cell's energy input equals its energy loss, what will happen to its internal order?
If energy input does not exceed energy loss, the cell cannot maintain its highly ordered system and will become more disordered.
How do shared, conserved processes relate to the theory of evolution?
Shared, conserved processes and features across different species support the concept of common ancestry for all organisms.
What is a 'conserved' metabolic pathway?
A conserved pathway, like glycolysis, is a core metabolic process that is shared across all recognized domains of life.